Ancient Japan is a chronological layer that some scholars date back to the 3rd century. BC. - III century AD, and some researchers tend to continue it until the IX century. AD As you can see, the process of the emergence of statehood on the Japanese islands was delayed, and the period of the ancient kingdoms quickly changed into a feudal system. This may be due to the geographic isolation of the archipelago, and although people settled it 17 thousand years ago, relations with the mainland were extremely episodic. Only in the 5th century BC here they begin to cultivate the land, but society continues to remain tribal.
Ancient Japan left behind very little material and written evidence. The first annalistic records of the islands belong to the Chinese and date back to the beginning of our era. By the beginning of the VIII century. AD the first Japanese chronicles are: “Kojiki” and “Nihongi”, when the tribal leaders of Yamato who came to the forefront had an urgent need to justify the ancient, and therefore sacred, origin of their dynasty. Therefore, the annals contain many myths, tales and legends surprisingly interwoven with real events.
At the beginning of each of the chronicles, the history of the formation of the archipelago is described. The "Age of the Gods", preceding the era of people, gave birth to the god-man Jimma, who became the ancestor of the Yamato dynasty. The cult of ancestors, which has been preserved on the islands from a primitive communal system, and new religious beliefs about the Heavenly goddess of the sun Amaterasu became the basis of Shintoism. Also, ancient Japan professed and widely practiced totemism, animism, fetishism and magic, as well as all agricultural societies, the basis of life of which was favorable weather conditions for the harvest.
Around the second century BC. ancient Japan begins to establish close ties with China. The influence of a more developed neighbor was total: in the economy, culture, beliefs. In the IV-V centuries, writing appears - naturally, hieroglyphic. New crafts are born, new knowledge about astronomy, technology comes. Confucianism with Buddhism also infiltrates the territory of the islands from China. This gives rise to a real revolution in culture. Of particular importance was the impact of Buddhism on the mentality of society: faith in the transmigration of souls accelerated the decomposition of the tribal system.
But despite the significant superiority of China, Ancient Japan, whose culture was particularly influenced by its neighbor, remained an original country. Even in the political system, it did not have the features inherent in Ancient China. In the social structure of society back in the V century. AD tribal elders and leaders played a significant role, and the free farmers were the main class. There were few slaves - these were "domestic slaves" in the families of farmers. The classical slave system did not manage to take shape on the territory of the islands, since tribal relations were rapidly replaced by feudal ones.
Japan, whose culture and traditions are closely connected with Confucianism and Buddhism, has given many architectural monuments of religious architecture. These include temple complexes in the ancient capitals of Nara and Heian (modern Kyoto). The ensembles of the Niku shrine in Ise (III century), Izumo (550) and Horyuji in Nara (607) are especially striking in their skill and completeness. The originality of Japanese culture is maximally manifested in literary monuments. The most famous work of this period - "Manyoshu" (VIII century.) - A huge anthology of four and a half thousand poems.
